While, in the various range of thought, The one thing needful is forgot?

2 Shall GOD invite you from above, Shall Jesus urge his dying love, Shall troubl'd conscience give you pain, And all these pleas unite in vain? 3 Not so your eyes will always view The objects which you now pursue; Not so eternity appear,

When death's decisive hour is near.

4 Almighty God! thine aid impart To fix conviction on the heart:

1

Thy pow'r can clear the darkest eyes,
And make the haughtiest scorner wise.

340.

Long Metre. Doddridge.
The wise choice.

BESET with snares on ev'ry hand,

In life's uncertain path I stand:

Father Divine! diffuse thy light

To guide my doubtful footsteps right.

2 Engage this frail, this wav'ring heart,
Wisely to choose the better part;
To scorn the trifles of a day
For joys that never fade away.

3 Then let the wildest storms arise;
Let tempests mingle earth and skies;
No fatal shipwreck shall I fear,
But all my treasures with me bear.

4 If thou, my Father! still be nigh, Cheerful I live, and joyful die:

1

Secure, when mortal comforts flee,
To find ten thousand worlds in thee.

341.

Common Metre. DODDRIDGE. Seeking first the kingdom of GOD.

Now

OW let a true ambition rise,
And ardour fire our breast,
To reign in worlds above the skies,
In heav'nly glories drest.

2 Behold JEHOVAH's royal hand
A radiant crown display,

Whose gems with vivid lustre shine,
While suns and stars decay.

3 No more I seek for transient good,
Nor longer call it mine:

I spring to seize superior joys
Immortal and divine.

4 Ye hearts, with youthful vigour warm, The glorious prize pursue;

Nor shall ye want the goods of earth,
While heav'n is kept in view.

1

PART XII.

The Christian Character.

342.

Common Metre. LIVERPOOL COLL.
The duties of piety.

Y soul, before thy Maker bow;
His wondrous works admire,
Till rev'rence and religious awe,
Thine inmost thoughts inspire.

2 With humble trust dismiss thy cares,
And on his love depend;
Leave him to manage thine affairs,
To him thyself commend.

3 Let high esteem affection raise,
Devotion warm thy breast;

Let thankful love excite thy praise;
In him alone be blest.

4 To him thy solemn homage pay;
His constant aid implore;
Give thanks for mercies ev'ry day,
And thus prepare for more.

5 Without reserve to him submit;
All his commands fulfil;

Acknowledge all his actions fit;
Nor e'er oppose his will.

E

343.

Long Metre. DODDRIDGE.

Faith in the invisible GOD.

TERNAL and immortal King!
Thy peerless splendors none can bear;
But darkness veils seraphic eyes,
When God with all his glory's there.
2 Yet faith can pierce the awful gloom;
The great Invisible can see;

And with its tremblings mingle joy,
In fix'd regards, great GOD! to thee.
3 Then ev'ry tempting form of sin,
Aw'd by thy presence, disappears;
And all the glowing raptur'd soul
The likeness it contemplates, wears.
4 O ever conscious to my heart!
Witness to its supreme desire;
Behold it presses on to thee,
For it hath caught the heav'nly fire.
5 This one petition would it urge,
To bear thee ever in its sight:
In life, in death, in worlds unknown,
Its only portion and delight.

2 B2

344.

Long Metre. DODDRIDGE.

God's name the encouragement of faith.

ING to the LORD, who loud proclaims.

SING

His various and his saving names;

O may they not be heard alone,

But by our sure experience known! 2 Let great JEHOVAH be ador'd, Th' eternal, all-sufficient LORD; He, thro' the world, Most High confess'd, By whom 'twas form'd, and is possess❜d. 3 Awake, our noblest pow'rs, to bless The God of Abr'am, GoD of peace; Now by a dearer title known, Father and GOD of Christ his son. 4 Thro' ev'ry age his gracious ear Is open to his servants' pray'r; Nor can one humble soul complain That it hath sought its GoD in vain. 5 What unbelieving heart shall dare In whispers to suggest a fear,

While still he owns his ancient name,
The same his pow'r, his love the same?
6 To thee our souls in faith arise,
To thee we lift expecting eyes,
And boldly thro' the desert tread;

For God will guard where GoD shall lead.